Central African Republic in turmoil - UNICEF calls on all parties to protect children

An emergency with slim funding

GENEVA/BANGUI, 26 March 2013 – The lives of 600,000 children in
Central African Republic are being seriously affected by the ongoing
conflict across the country, UNICEF warned today. The agency called on
all parties to lay down their arms and to ensure the wellbeing of
children.

While the UN, including UNICEF have temporarily relocated
non-essential staff from CAR to neighboring Cameroon following the rebel
takeover of the impoverished country, over 60 UNICEF staff are still
working to deliver supplies to children in country.

The challenges are daunting. The blockage of roads, the presence of
armed groups, and the potential risk of pillage and attacks is
preventing the massive distribution of supplies from taking place.

Even before the trouble began, an estimated 13,500 children were
expected to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition this year. Most
doctors have left and many nutrition centres are closed and looted.

Over the past three months, basic health, nutrition and education
services have been disrupted in many communities in most of the
rebel-controlled areas. During missions to Kaga-Bandoro, Bossangoa and
Bambari earlier this month, UNICEF noted shortage in life-saving
medicines in all the three towns.

With schools closed or occupied and teachers absent, at least 166,000 children are being denied access to education.

Other major risks to children include recruitment into armed groups
and gender-based violence. Most vulnerable are children who have lost
their homes, have been separated from their families, or were formerly
associated with armed groups. Even before the current crisis, UNICEF
estimates that some 2500 children, both girls and boys, were associated
with armed groups in the Central African Republic.

Since January, UNICEF has brought in over 70 metric tons of supplies
including medicine, water purification tablets, therapeutic food,
cooking sets, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, and other essential household
items.

UNICEF requires USD 11.1 million to provide life-saving support to
families hit by the conflict. Before the outset of the crisis,
humanitarian agencies launched a $129 million appeal for emergency
assistance in 2013, but only 1 per cent of this much needed funding has
been received.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to help
children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.
The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries,
UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation,
quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of
children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded
entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses,
foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its
work visit: www.unicef.org